Soap dispenser



July 6, 1937. H. -A. MULLETT 85,

SOAP DISPENSER Filed March 9, 1956 INVENTORL AQWMJQJYM BY I MQM } ATTORNEYS Patented July 6, 1937 U N i TE STATES SOAP DISPENSER Howard A. Mullett. Milwaukee, Wis., assignor to Bradley Washfountain Company, Milwaukce, Wis, a corporation of Wisconsin Application March 9, 1936, Serial No. 67,804

4 Claims.

The invention relates to devices for dispensing powdered, granular, or other types of soap in finely divided form.

The main object of the invention is to provide a dispensing mechanism which formsthe outlet and from which it is .forcibly discharged after its withdrawal from the soap receptacle. 7'

A further object of the invention is to provide a soap dispensing device of the character above described in which the amount of soap dispensed may be regulated byvarying the stroke of one of the dispensing members.

A further object of the invention is to provide a dispensing mechanism associated with a receptacle for the soap being dispensed and which may be readily removed therefrom as a unit.

The invention further consists in the several features hereinafter set forth and more particularly defined by claims at the conclusion hereof.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view through a device embodying the invention showing it in discharged position;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the device in charging position;

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

In the drawing, the numeral 5 designates a portion of a receptacle, tank, or reservoir containing the soap to be dispensed and having a threaded bottom opening 6 in which the threaded portion 5 of a base member 8 is detachably mounted.

The metal base member 8 has a depending discharge chute portion lli which, intermediate its ends, connects by radially disposed arms H with an annulus l2. Bolts l3 are also mounted in said member 8 and with the aid of spacer sleeves it support a guide and spring housing member 15 above said base and in line with a bore l6 therein.

A hollow plunger IT has a tubular portion l8 working in the bore l6 and the corresponding bore is of the member l5 and has a tubular portion 29 of less diameter which passes through the central opening of the annulus l2 and also through a tubular sleeve or dispensing part 2i whose outer diameter is the same as that of the bore I6.

The sleeve 2! is mounted for limited longitudinal movement relative to the plunger ll by its connection with a pin 22 passing diametrically through spaced slots 23 in the wall of the portion 20 of said plunger. A spring 24 is interposed between said pinand a screw plug 25 in the upper end of the plunger to normally "move said sleeve away from the shoulder or face 25 formed on the plunger, said sleevepreferably having its upper end 2'! bevelled.

Both the plunger and the sleeve 21 with'it are normally moved downwardly by 'a spring 28 mounted in the housing l5 betweenits top and the top of the plunger, this last named spring being stronger than the'spring 24;

For varying the stroke of the plunger ll an adjustable stop is provided therefore in the form of a screw 29 mounted in the plug 25 and locked "in adjusted position by the lock nut 30.

- It is to be noted that the housing rnember l5 and the upper part of the plunger IT project up I into the soap chamber, the portion of the plunger above the base 3 being surrounded with soap, and that as the operator presses up on the handle SI of the plunger, he moves it upwardly against the action of the spring 23, thus relieving the spring 24 of .counterpressure and causing said spring 24 to move the sleeve 2i downwardly relative to the plunger to bring the pin 2'2 to the lower-end of the ."slots .123 and thussepar'ate the face Zii'of'the plunger from the top El of the sleeve a certain distance, and thereafter a continued movement of the plunger brings these parts in the chargereceiving position shown in Fig, 2 where it will be noted an annular space 32 is formed by the plunger and sleeve. On a release of the plunger l! by the operator from the loading position of Fig. 2 the spring 28 moves the plunger and sleeve downwardly together until the lower end of the sleeve 2! strikes the annulus l2 and the parts have moved to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 2 at which time the bevelled top 2'! of the sleeve has moved to a dispensing position, and as the soap falls from the space 32 within which it has been confined during the movement of the. sleeve 2! through the bore it, it permits the plunger I! under the action of the spring 28 to move to its; final downward position shown in Fig. 1. Thus between the dotted line position of Fig. 2 and the full line position of Fig. 1 the relative movement between the plunger ii and the sleeve 2! acts to forcibly eject soap from the space 32 formed between these parts. The soap thus ejected falls in the chute Ill and through the openings between the arms ll onto the hand or hands of the user.

If for any reason the device does not operate properly, the whole dispensing assembly may be removed from the receptacle 5 as a unit by unscrewing the threaded connection between the threaded openings and the threaded portion 1. To facilitate removal of the unit, the base member 8 has a small opening therein to receive the end of a spanner wrench so that it may be readily turned.

If too much or not enough soap is being delivered by the initial adjustment of the device, then by the removal of the unit from the receptacle and the removal of the guide member l and the inward or outward adjustment of the screw 29 the stroke of the plunger I! may be changed. While the volume of the space 32 re mains the same, actually in the dispensing of soap in powdered or other finely divided form the quantity of soap delivered from this space may be materially varied by adjusting the stroke of the plunger. Thus with an increase in stroke the annular cavity 32 is filled to a greater per cent of its volume during the operation of the device, and a greater amount of soap is dispensed than when the plunger is given a short stroke.

Where not otherwise specified the parts above described are made of metal or other suitable material.

I desire it to be understood that this invention is not to be limited to any particular form or arrangement of parts except in so far as such plunger and sleeve together to a charge receiv ing position within the receptacle, said sleeve being movable relative to said plunger on the movement of said plunger and sleeve to a dispensing position.

2. In a device of the character described, the

combination of a receptacle having a dispensing opening, .a tubular dispensing plunger movable in said dispensing opening and having a larger diameter slidably fitting said opening and a smaller diameter, a sleeve member slidably mounted on the portion of the plunger of smaller diameter and having an outer diameter to slidably fit in said opening, a lost motion connection between said sleeve and plunger, a spring acting on said connection to normally urge said sleeve outwardly to form a charge receiving space, and a stop to arrest movement of said sleeve and permit movement of said plunger relative thereto as said plunger is moved to a dispensing position.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination of a receptacle having a dispensing opening, a cylindrical plunger movable in said dispensing opening and having a larger diameter slidably fitting said opening and a smaller diameter, a sleeve member slidably mounted on the portion of the plunger of smaller diameter and having .an outer diameterto slidably fit in said opening and provided with an outwardly bevelled upper end, means for moving said plunger and sleeve together to a charge receivspring means interposed between said plunger and guide means, an adjustable stop on the upper end of the plunger engageable with said guide means to limit the stroke of said plunger,

having a lost motion connection with each other guide means for the upper end of the plunger,

said plunger including relatively movable ii and acting to form a charge receiving space in the upper position of the plunger, spring means acting to normally move said parts to a charge receiving position on the charging movement of said plunger, said parts acting to decrease the volume of said space as the plunger moves to dispensing position.

HOWARD A. MUILE'I'I'. 

